The Gift of Giving Water

The Gift of Giving Water

And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 10:42 NLT

You can always give without loving, but you can not love without giving. –Amy Carmichael

            As pioneer missionaries in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we have the privilege of planting the first IPHC churches in our country. That means that the spiritual DNA of these first churches will go on as they start new churches. Since first starting with a small group in our living room, we decided to fully support another IPHC church planter and his family in Azerbaijan. We have been doing this for more than five years and will joyfully continue investing in their lives and ministry. This really is one of our greatest joys and privileges, yet we have decided that we wanted to give even more.

            Every Sunday at the beginning of our service we have our children walk around with flower pots with large labels on them that read, “Seeds for others.” Everyone is encouraged to give as they can and we make sure that we are a source of blessing locally and internationally. Yet one day, we decided we wanted to invest in something BIG that would continually give for many years to come. This is when the idea of helping dig a water well through People to People came up. One month later, we received news about one of our Bible Schools in India desperately needing a new and deeper well. It was with great joy that we were able to sponsor this well so that they could get the water that they needed. If we get a reward for giving a cup of water, what kind of reward is there for the thousands of cups of water that a water well will give. What an ideal way to give!

At the core of our Christian faith we see radical generosity. God loved us so much that he gave us Jesus (John 3:16) Abraham was blessed to be a blessing (Gen 12:2) Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matt. 20:28) If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD--and he will repay you! (Prov. 19:17, NLT) Also, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” (Luke 6:38)  Jesus even said that it is, “Better to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)   

Radical generosity is an integral component of the gospel message and by giving to a water well, we are helping not just a church but an entire community. Our investment will continually keep on giving and enable our brothers and sisters around the world not only to give physical water to there communities, but also the gift of living water, Jesus (John 4:14). He will quench their thirsts for eternity and we will have had a small, yet important, part herein. Again, giving to dig a water well is an ideal way to give.




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